My First Crop Over! | Barbados Photo Diary

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know that I just had an incredible time at Crop Over in Barbados.  Crop Over is the Bajan version of Carnival.  There's like a whole month of parties and events that all culminate in Kadooment Day, which is a day-long parade over a route that stretches 6 miles!

Barbados day 1: Roast Cruise

When I arrived in Barbados, three members of the Crop Over crew were already there and ready to turn up.  I had about 5 minutes to shower and change before heading to a boat cruise.  The line to board the boat was insane, but once on board, we had an amazing time and it was the best start to the trip.Plus....the views![row padding_top="" padding_bottom="" bg="" bg_light="true" appear="false"] [column size="1-2" appear="false"][/column] [column size="1-2" appear="false"][/column] [/row]The views from the boat were gorgeous, and the cruise was so fun.  They played soca all night and it definitely set the tone for the rest of the trip.

Barbados day 2: Caesar's Army

After the boat cruise, we only had a couple of hours before the Caesar's Army party started at 2am.  I seriously can't even describe this party.  Basically we took a cab out into the countryside, and we danced around a race track in the middle of the night following a massive truck with a DJ blasting Soca music.Oh yeah, we also had plastic water bottles filled with paint that we threw at each other.  And there was colored powder too because the paint and the dirt wasn't messy enough.  Apparently there was a water slide somewhere too, but at like 6:30am we were tired as hell and staggered off the track to find a cab home.It was totally insane and hella fun.

later on...

After Caesar's Army, we went back home to rest and then we headed to Dover Beach.This is how you relax.  The water was cool and refreshing and it was amazing.And look at this beautiful sunset...

Barbados day 3: Boatyard & Chill

Since this was the day before the big parade for Crop Over, we just took it easy.  I went to a beachside bar and restaurant called Boatyard and had some food and just relaxed.Every single sunset was picture perfect.  Barbados is one beautiful island.

Barbados day 4: Crop Over

So this was the day we'd been waiting for.  I really didn't know what to expect at all.  My family is straight up American, so everything was new to me.  But I loved every minute of it.  I wasn't able to snap too many pictures because I was too busy chipping down the road (I picked up a little slang and now I think I know what I'm talking about LOL), but here's a glimpse into Crop Over...To actually be in the parade, you need to join a band.  Each band has its own theme for costumes and you stay with your band for the whole parade.  Each band has a truck with a DJ and a truck with a full bar so between the music and the booze, you're good.Before the parade, all of the bands (there were probably 15 or 20 bands and maybe 10,000 people) gather in a stadium and go before the judges so they can see the costumes and pick the best band.

Barbados days 5-6: Recovery

We had a full day after Crop Over to just relax on the beach and then left Barbados the following day.  It was such an incredible trip with the perfect mix of partying and relaxing and I can't wait to go back next year.  Seriously, it was one of my favorite vacations ever.  One of my friends from law school organized it, and I'm forever grateful for the experience that I had with my Crop Over crew.Until next time.